Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction
| Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $116,808 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $1,177,111,974 |
| Term limits: | Two terms in any 16 year period |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 1 the Executive Department |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
| Elsie Arntzen | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Last election: | November 3, 2020 |
| Other Montana Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Director • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected state executive position in the Montana state government.
The superintendent serves as head of the Montana Office of Public Instruction, whose mission statement is to provide "vision, advocacy, support and leadership for schools and communities to ensure that all students meet today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities."[1][2]
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Republican Elsie Arntzen. She was elected in 2016 and was sworn into office on January 2, 2017.[3][4]
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of superintendent of public instruction in Article VI, the Executive Department.
Under Article VI, Section I:
|
The executive branch includes a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction... |
Qualifications
A candidate for superintendent of public instruction must be:
- at least 25 years of age or older at the time of election
- a citizen of the United States
- have resided within the state at least two years at his election
- have such educational qualifications as are provided by law[5]
Elections
Article VI of the Montana State Constitution stipulates that the superintendent of public instruction is a publicly elected official who serves a term of four years. According to Article IV, Section 8, no official may serve more than eight years within any 16-year period.
2024
General election candidates
- Shannon O'Brien (Democratic Party)
- Susie Hedalen (Republican Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Republican primary candidates
2020
General election candidates
- Elsie Arntzen (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Melissa Romano (Democratic Party)
- Kevin Leatherbarrow (Libertarian Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Republican primary candidates
- Elsie Arntzen (Incumbent) ✔
Minor Party primary candidates
Libertarian Party
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
2016
The general election for superintendent of public instruction was held on November 8, 2016.
2012
Incumbent Denise Juneau (D) narrowly defeated Sandy Welch (R) to win re-election in the November 6, 2012 general election. The race initially went to a recount, but Welch dropped the issue due to the cost.
| Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Denise Juneau Incumbent |
50.2% | 235,397 | |
| Republican | Sandy Welch | 49.8% | 233,166 | |
| Total Votes | 468,563 | |||
| Election results via Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Vacancies
Details of vacancies are addressed under Article VI, Section 6.
If the superintendent of public instruction's office is vacant due to death, resignation, or disability, the governor shall appoint a new superintendent of public instruction.[6]
Duties
The Montana Code addresses the duties of the superintendent of public instruction in Title 20-3-105.
|
Divisions
As of January 27, 2021, the office contained the following divisions:
- Operations
- Education Services[8]
State budget
- See also: Montana state budget and finances
The Montana Office of Public Instruction's budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $1,177,111,974.[9]
Compensation
The state Constitution addresses compensation of executive officials in Article VI, Section 5.
Under Article VI, Section 5(1):
|
Officers of the executive branch shall receive salaries provided by law. |
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $116,808, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2021
In 2021, the superintendent received a salary of $116,378, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2020
In 2020, the superintendent received a salary of $116,378, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2019
In 2019, the superintendent received a salary of $107,127, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2018
In 2018, the superintendent received a salary of $107,127, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2017
In 2017, the superintendent received a salary of $104,635, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2016
In 2016, the superintendent received a salary of $104,635, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2015
In 2015, the superintendent received a salary of $104,635, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2014
In 2014, the superintendent earned a salary of $104,635, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2013
In 2013, the superintendent earned a salary of $104,635, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2010
In 2010, the superintendent earned a salary of $104,635, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
The Montana Office of Public Instruction
Post Office Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
Phone: 406-444-3095
Toll Free: 888-231-9393
Email: OPISupt@mt.gov
See also
| Montana | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Office of Public Instruction, "Homepage," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Title 20, Chapter 3, Part 1," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Helena Independent Record, "Governor calls for bipartisanship, says Montana can be 'shining example,'" January 2, 2017
- ↑ Montana Office of Public Instruction, "Homepage," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Montana Constitution," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Montana Constitution," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Title 20, Chapter 3, Part 1," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Governor's Office of Budget & Program Planning, "2021 Biennium Executive Budget," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "HB002," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 30, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 22, 2011
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
 |
State of Montana Helena (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |